A recording studio is essentially operated to record and mix sound, including voices. A studio may rent out sessions or may be privately owned by a music label, for example. Learn the terms commonly associated with music production in relation to a recording studio.

Acoustic Properties- Describes how sound travels through a building and it’s relevance to hearing. Properties include density, acoustic impedance and sound velocity.

Multi-track Recording- Method used to record multiple sound sources on one piece of equipment. These multi-trackers can produce up to 24 separate audios at one time. Multi-track recorders are available for digital or manual use. Manual multi-trackers will be less expensive but also less sophisticated.

Home Studio- Production studio setup in the home with
various software to mix and master vocal, voice or note music. Home studios can have simple setup like a microphone and small speakers or it can be dedicated to one whole area in the home with top-of-line digital equipment.

Mix-down- Process or art of creating a blend of recorded tracks or music. This process converts a multi-track recording to a two-track stereo tape.

Sample- A portion or part of a piece of music produced. For example, a major record label may offer a sample for new artist. This method is designed to give prospective buyers a taste of what they will hear if they purchase the recording in whole. A sample also refers to when a modern artist samples or takes a portion or piece of music from a previous artist who has already created it.

If you are a solo artist or a member of a band that writes original material, you may want to go into a studio to record your songs. You have the option of building and utilizing your own home studio or you can take advantage of the many capabilities of a professional facility.
Setting up in your house doesn’t require as much space as you might think. Some people have areas set up in their attics, basements or an extra room of their house. There’s a variety of easy to use software available for amateurs as well. These programs make recording vocal tracks a breeze. It is no longer necessary to have a big label footing the bill or calling the shots on your music. You can have voice and artistic control.
You may opt to go a more professional route for your material. It depends on your budget and needs. Using an established company with years of experience has it’s advantages. You can use one of their in-house engineers who will be able to produce the best sound possible out of your equipment and your voice. These companies will have state-of-the-art microphones and speakers on hand to produce great audio. They may even be able to help you with your post production needs. Other services may also be offered at the same location. This might include mastering which prepares your files for production into CDs.
Digital recording has become the most popular way to document music. It is cheaper than analog, although some say the tones aren’t as warm with digital files.